The dismissal of Peter Mandelson as Britain's ambassador to Washington will cast a long shadow over US President Donald Trump's state visit to the UK. Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images London —

When US President Donald Trump arrives at Windsor Castle for his unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom on Wednesday, there will be one notable absentee.

As Trump is greeted by King Charles and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the diplomat who had a big hand in much of the preparation work could have been expected to be hovering in the background. But that official, the British ambassador to Washington, was fired last week over his links to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The dismissal of Peter Mandelson – a polarizing figure on the left of British politics for year

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